But then the problem for these Hurricanes has never been returning fire - it's defending.

"Yeah, we don't know," first five-eighth Beauden Barrett said this week when quizzed on last year's leaky defence.

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"We seem to score a lot of points and leak a lot of points. It's just the way the games have gone. I'm not too sure why that is. You can't nail it to one thing."

Barrett's right on one count.

There were no individuals on whom to pin the unenviable tag of worst defence in Super Rugby last season.

But there were some areas the opposition attacked, most often a shaky scrum that had the Hurricanes on the back foot against better sides.

Which - strangely, considering the talent on show - is where their opening match of 2013 will be won and lost.

Off-season recruit Ben Franks has joined a deep and promising propping stable. There were no alarm bells when Jeffery Toomaga-Allen was ruled out of the match with concussion.

Experienced Ben May starts at tight-head with Franks on the other side of All Black rake Dane Coles.

The Blues, on the other hand, are an unknown quantity up front, where loose head Tom McCartney is a converted hooker and James Parsons a relative rookie.

Behind a steady and dominant set piece, Barrett and halves partner TJ Perenara will be happy men.

And so will the Hurricanes' paymasters if Franks can steel up the one obvious weak point from last season.

Barrett believes the Hurricanes backs can step things up a notch with the benefit of a full year behind their combinations.

"With Timmy [Bateman], Conrad and TJ, we know each other's style of play now and that's got to be a good thing," he said. "It does [make a difference] because we have that understanding of what we're looking at on attack.

"When different opportunities arise we can nail down the detail . . . knowing the better options to take, reading defences and feeding that information back."

Those expecting an easy start for the Hurricanes should think again.

Coach John Kirwan appears to have this Blues side pumped in a similar mould to last year's Hurricanes and his knightly sidekick, Graham Henry, is sure to have fine-tuned the defence.

What they lack in experience will be made up for in energy. Expect No 8 Peter Saili and big wing Halai to carry the ball early and hard at the Hurricanes inside backs.

If they can get behind the Hurricanes' defence, halfback Piri Weepu will be dangerous against a side he knows only too well.

Opensides Karl Lowe and Luke Braid should have a ding-dong battle and fullbacks Taylor and Charles Piutau are sure to be tempted into counterattack by some early kicks.

Whoever runs into the most disciplined chase line and determined defence will likely be the man on the losing team in what shapes as a closer game than many are predicting.